After plummeting into a depression after the VA Parkinsons clinic visit he bounced back by mid week and was doing quite well. He had a good day on Wed, thurs, and I believe on Friday as well. I say I believe because I left town at 5am and didnt return until Monday. His speech was good and strong and he reported he felt well.
Saturday he also had a good day. Arlene spent a lot of time with him practicing on some physical stuff. I spoke with them both briefly that day, but I was in a no internet no cell service hole so it was hard for me to find a place with service. Thats 4 good days in a row.
Sunday however, he fell, and while he didn't break anything he is suffering from a very sore left shoulder.
I met him at the VA center Monday afternoon for his Neurological surgery follow up, and a visual field exam which was like chinese torture. That is the exam where you rest your head on the edge of a machine and press the button whenever you see a light. Well Richard has some cognitive issues, so sometimes it was press press press press....others was like he phased out and forgot the task and needed to be reminded. That put us behind for Neurology but turned out it didn't matter. They were only concerned with if there were symptoms displaying that might need surgical correction. That's a big fat no. Dr said he was ahead of expected recovery schedule however by noting that both left and right were displaying similar strength.
We didn't get out of there until close to 6pm. I brought dim sum and we rolled out to the parking lot to get it. he was famished. He ate half took the rest on the transport bus. I had to get back here and dreading the thought of having to unpack my car from 4 blocks away. Turns out I didn't have to but it was still a major chore. Finally get settled and unpacked and the phone rings. Its Tunnell asking me where Richard is. Its been over an hour since he was loaded onto transport?! He arrived back about 20minutes after that.... !#$@!%
So today we have an 11a state of the union meeting with Tunnell staff. I was surprised - blindsided - that his 100 days are up on Dec 7th. So its like what are we going to do after that?! Kind of in a rush to put the head down and start mass calling facilities. He can stay there but will get moved to floor 3 and lose rehabilitative services...at that point why stay there.
This is a msas of information overload that I am not prepared to absorb in my mind which consists of...what medical coverage will pay for, what facilities accept that coverage, what of those have beds, what of those have a not so scary facility. This seems an impossible task for 3 weeks.
I started to research today when I got back and quickly became overwhelmed. I dont even know what questions to ask. Nonetheless I think I have one general person calling me tomorrow morning which can possibly assist in narrowing the search.
Arlene of course wants him over in East Bay so she doesn't have to trudge back and forth...this is potentially an issue with transport to VA for his regular stuff. That needs to be sorted out.
PLUS he NEEDS rehabilitative stuff still. So have to figure out how to make that happen. I think it will be Medicaid to the rescue there...but again a mass of information to absorb to know what resources are available for what.
Today he was down...wanting to rest - his shoulder was killing him. I visited only for a short bit before we went into the meeting and when I came back out he was freshly showered and passed out. He of course didn't want to do any more therapy that day. This is such a huge deal that he doesnt even get. you cant have down days at this point but I didn't say anything.
Speech reports she sees an improvement with swallowing, and may be moving him to different liquids next week with continued success.
Occupational reports that he is potentially plateaued. Dont know how she can say that. She may be frustrated. I know its slow going...but it IS going.
Then all of that was followed with long discussions about a discharge plan. Which is now the task on the platter.
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